Almost one in 10 motorists admit to driving without a valid MOT

A new study has revealed that just under one in 10 motorists (9%) have driven their car without a valid MOT at least once in their lifetime. Driving without a valid MOT is only legal if driving to a pre-booked appointment for an MOT or repairs from a failed test, indicating that a substantial proportion of motorists could have been on the road illegally. 

The figures come from the latest survey by Renewal, the new personal finance app powered by Go.Compare. As part of the study, a small number of drivers (4%) admitted that they’ve knowingly continued to drive a vehicle even though it failed its MOT, despite it being illegal to do so. 

The penalty for driving a car without a valid MOT in the UK is a fine of up to £1,000, although this can rise to £2,500 in severe cases. 

Despite the importance of MOTs, many drivers in the survey confessed that they’ve allowed it to slip their minds. More than one in 10 (15%) said they have forgotten to book an MOT until after it had already run out. 

The same percentage of drivers said they tried to book a test at the last minute but couldn’t as the date they needed wasn’t available. Meanwhile, 12% said they ultimately had to avoid using their vehicle because they let their MOT run out. 

Matt Sanders, money spokesperson at Go.Compare (which powers the Renewal app), said: “While arranging an MOT might not be the first thing on your mind in busy everyday life, it is important, so it’s paramount that you do everything you can to make sure you don’t forget and find yourself driving illegally. 

“If you’re struggling to keep track of your motoring admin, it might be helpful to explore alternative ways of setting reminders. The new Renewal app from Go.Compare can be a great help with this, as it will send you reminders when your vehicle’s MOT is due, alongside other things like car tax and insurance, so that you avoid making one of these potentially costly mistakes. 

“Although this error can be inconvenient, you absolutely must not take the risk of driving a vehicle without a valid MOT, unless you’re on the way to the test centre for a pre-booked test, or an appointment to repair issues that were identified in the MOT. The risks to your wallet and safety are never worth taking.”

Download the Renewal app today.

ENDS